Author: TLos

May 4, 2022

Dear Letter to the Editor:

Newburyport Youth Services (NYS) is an important and valued community organization in the city of Newburyport. It provides a safe and welcoming space for our young people to share their hopes, dreams and fears with trusted and educated staff. The city of Newburyport is lucky to have a longtime leader at NYS, like Andrea Egmont, who has invested 17 years into caring for and nurturing Newburyport’s children. As residents who are concerned about the lack of meaningful support and empathy for NYS, its staff, and what it represents, we had to share what the organization has meant to us.

Since its inception, NYS has provided more than just after-school programming and summer camps for youth. NYS programs and supports are designed to meet specific needs of youth and families in the community and to inspire and nurture all youth, including but not limited to young girls and women, students of color, and youth that identify as LGBTQIA+. Discrimination experienced by young people in these groups negatively impacts their feelings of inclusion and belonging, as well as self-confidence, safety, and wellness. In supporting all young people, NYS programming will continue to be responsive to and a reflection of the needs of the populations it serves.

NYS programs are informed by data and community input. Debby Irving was brought to Newburyport as part of the Parent Speaker Series and was chosen in response to requests from parents about how to talk to their children about race. The upcoming dance hosted by NYS and NAGLY North, an affinity group for young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, is open to all high school youth, and is designed to create a safe and supportive environment where all young people feel that they are valued and that they belong.

In recent weeks, NYS’ attempts to bring these targeted and necessary programs around race and sexuality and gender identity have been met with attacks from a small but vocal minority.  We believe these voices do not represent the majority of our community, who greatly value all efforts to create greater inclusion and equity, especially for those most vulnerable and underserved. 

Newburyport is a small community where we know our neighbors, cheer for our friends’ children at sporting events and theater performances, and raise money for our schools. It is a community that seeks to value each and every employee, community organization, business and resident that makes Newburyport what it is today. This diversity should be celebrated. While we may have differences of opinion in how we raise our children, NYS programming should be created to reflect the wants and needs of our community as a whole.

We stand with NYS and with all members of our community. We celebrate our differences and we invite our fellow citizens to also show their support and solidarity by speaking up and showing up. 

Thank you,

Newburyport’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alliance

Paul and Susan Acquaviva

Kourtney Adams

Korki and John Aldrich

Meg Alfoni

Jessica Baylor*

Laura Beal

Priscilla B. Bellairs

Matt Bennett

Frank Bertolino

Kacie Biddle

Eliza Bobek

Nora and Ted Boretti

Paula Breger

Reverend Rebecca Bryan*, Minister, FRSUU

Deirdre Budzyna

Jaime Calisi

Brian Callahan

Olivia Cap and Eric Canfield

Marissa Cap

Vic Carr

Marybeth Kennealy and Joe Cheever

Kara Chiarello

Jean Copelin

Tasha Cough and Scott Yewell

Shane and Alissa Cough

Ray Coutu

Michelle Xiarhos Curran

Ingrid Cyros

Marc and Katie de Kanter

John Dear

Arlen deVos

Becky Dill

Christine Doherty and Lisa Mead

Sunny* and Craig Douglas

Julie Dowd & Tim Freundlich

Eileen Duff, Governor’s Councilor

Kelly Dziepak

Michael Eatman*

Christina Eckert

Kelly Essman and Jason Harris

Paula Estey

Lori Fairbrother

Kristen Farrell

Elaine Fearnley

Ben & Christine Fichera

Rachel & Alex Forrest-Hay

Rebecca & Benjamin Fundis

Lisa Furlong

Sean Gallagher*

Nikhil Gehani^

Katherine Gendron

Tom Getz^

Laura Goldberg

Gigi Green

James Grogan

Jen Groskin^

Robert Grower

Ann Haaser

Sarah Hall, Vice Chair Newburyport School Committee

Boyd Hancock

Michelle Hastings

Debbie Hart-Klein

Julie and Bob Hebeisen

Marie Hoffman

Donna Holaday

Sarah Holden

Beth Horne

Kevin Hudson

Ahmer Ibrahim*^

Chris Janson

Celia Johnson

Oliver Jones

Jennifer and Jose Juste

Afroz Khan, City Councilor

Dave Kipp

Pamela M. Kipp

Patrick Kirby

Sheryl Knopf

Emily Kulowiec

Betty LaBaugh

Phyllis Lauria

Margo Leanna

Dana Levy

Dr. Thomas Liu

Phoebe Lonborg-Lewis and Gregory Lewis

Regina Macdonald

Tony and Pam Marrese

Susan Martinson and James Grogan

Tom and Libby McGee

Kelly McNamee

The Rev. Dr. Jarred Mercer, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Karina Motlz

Kate and Mike Myhre

Rev. Christopher Ney

Katie Nye^

Ken Okaya

Lynn Omondi*

Barbara Oswald

Kelly and Matt Palma

Shana Perrucci

Omni Raimo

Roseann Robillard

Barbara Roche

Terry Rooney and Meg Stewart

Eileen, Conall and Niamh Ryan

Karen Sakaniwa

Heather Shand*, City Council President

Kathleen Shaw^

Melissa Sills*

Andrew Simpson

Sheila Spalding, School Committee Member

Christopher Spalding

Dan Spurling

Dianne* and Jerry Steimel

Kristine & Stu Steinberg

Susan Stone and Vernon Ellis

Kelley Sullivan

Emily Tallman

Ruth Temperino

Liv Timmins*

Spela Trefalt

Sheila^ and Ron Trieff

Karen Trowbridge

Peter Twichell

Erika and Jake Vartabedian

Marianne Vesey*

David & Barbara Vye

Andrea Weetman

Beth Welch and Chuck Christensen

Elizabeth Wencl

John and Lynn Whitcomb

Erina White

Elizabeth Wilcoxson*

The YWCA of Greater Newburyport

*Indicates member of Newburyport’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alliance

^Indicates member of Human Rights Commission